DEADLOCK AS ANGELS STAND UP TO HAMLET
TONBRIDGE couldn’t repeat their midweek League Cup heroics against Dulwich, keeping both sides’ play-off hopes intact after a frustrating encounter.
Tonbridge advanced to the Alan Turvey Trophy final with a 3-1 win at Longmead Stadium on Tuesday evening.
But yesterday afternoon at the same venue, it seemed as if the sides knew too much about each other.
And with league points at stake, they cancelled each other out, genuine chances being at something of a premium throughout.
Angels boss Steve McKimm wasn’t in the mood for such excuses, however.
He told The NLP: “We just weren't good enough and bearing in mind we are now at the business end of the season, I expected more effort.
“But we improved second half and I’ve got to be pleased with the clean sheet.”
The first goal threat arrived on 10 minutes when ex-Angel Nathan Green’s cross was almost diverted into his own goal by current Angels defender Sonny Miles.
On 26 minutes, Hamlet’s Dipo Akingyemi headed Green’s cross against the Tonbridge bar.
And the visitors finished the half on top without being able to break the Angels resistance.
But Tonbridge had a great chance at the start of the secondhalf.
Nicky Wheeler crossed and Alexander Akrofi seemed to be favourite at the near post but the shot was mistimed.
And from the resultant corner Mitchell Nelson headed just wide at the back post.
On 62 minutes, Green threatened the Angels rearguard with another cross and just for a moment it seemed the visitors outnumbered the home defenders, but somehow the Angels managed to clear the danger.
The Angels best half-chance came on 82 minutes when dangerous striker Nathan Elder headed on Luke Blewden’s long throw but Hamlet keeper Preston Edwards just about held on to the ball.
As the game entered the final few minutes both sides continued probing but the sense was that with defences on top the breakthrough was unlikely.
Hamlet manager Gavin Rose summed up the subdued mood of the afternoon.
He said: “I’m a bit disappointed not to win especially as we had the better of the first half but all in all a draw was probably a fair result.”